Spiritual Recognition

Evelyn F. Heywood

THE French word for gratitude—reconnaissance, recognition—serves to remind us of the true function of gratitude, which is the observance and acknowledgment of good. Once it is realized that good is the eternal heritage of man, and that in this scheme there is not and never has been any recognition of evil, gratitude is no longer an occasional and spasmodic expression of thanks for some special benefit; it is in reality a continuing state of consciousness. From then onward, there is revealed an entirely new relationship with God, whereby it is seen that gratitude is the continuous expression or recognition of man's unity with all good. Thus Jesus at the grave of Lazarus expressed his thanks for that which he knew was true and had always been true of God and his relationship with Him, whereby he could prove that life is spiritual, not material, even though all about him appeared the mortal testimony which denied it. "Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always."

In that spiritual relationship, in that oneness of Mind and its idea, which Jesus understood and demonstrated, there is no half-hearted acknowledgment, no reluctance to recognize that spiritual knowing, the heritage of man, is equal to every emergency. In his gratitude for the power and presence of immortal Life, Jesus was also cognizant of the fact that "the Son quickeneth whom he will."

The one thing of all others which men require to be aware of is that they hear and are heard of God. Jesus, before the raising of Lazarus, expressed his gratitude for this fact. We may well be grateful, as Christians have been all through the centuries, that they are heard of God. But Christian Scientists have reason to be immeasurably more grateful that, through the teachings of Mary Baker Eddy, the law has been revealed to them of scientific knowing, so that they may say, "And I knew that thou hearest me always." As men see that Mind's knowing is man's knowing, they will express in continual gratitude their recognition of spiritual reality.

On page 3 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy has written: "If we are ungrateful for Life, Truth, and Love, and yet return thanks to God for all blessings, we are insincere and incur the sharp censure our Master pronounces on hypocrites. In such a case, the only acceptable prayer is to put the finger on the lips and remember our blessings." In this way, spiritual recognition will replace that which was never recognized of God, and which in belief has been falsely imposed upon mankind. Life was restored to Lazarus because Christ Jesus recognized reality and the spiritual reason for its omnipresence. As men continually thank God for what they know is theirs, instead of bemoaning what they believe they have lost or fear they may lose, recognition and gratitude will be found synonymous, and the might of Spirit be exemplified.

David had visions of spiritual recognition and where alone it was to be found and preserved. In the seventy-third Psalm he confesses to his sense of envy and despair at the success of mortals in ease, riches, and power. Recognition of the only things which make for security and peace had been temporarily lost. But when he went into the sanctuary, when he put the finger on the lips, and saw that "God is good to Israel," the things of Spirit returned to him; he knew "there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee." In the place of blindness and bitterness, there were vision and gratitude. He heard God, and was heard of Him.

As men apprehend what are the infinite blessings of God, as they rejoice at their boundless opportunities to show forth the nature of Truth and Love, they learn also to be more grateful for and to each other. They learn to recognize—what they may quite unconsciously have ignored or insufficiently appreciated—the merits and kindnesses of their fellow men. A perusal of the authentic biographies of Mrs. Eddy, and a consideration of her writings from this point of view, will disclose how deeply appreciative our Leader was of good wherever it might be found, and with what gratitude and joy she acknowledged the services of those who worked for her and her Cause. On page 131 of "Miscellaneous Writings" she has said, "May God give unto us all that loving sense of gratitude which delights in the opportunity to cancel accounts."

Because of what he knew, and recognized that he had always known, as Life's representative, Jesus canceled at the grave of Lazarus that which had brought loss and suffering to his friends. In like manner will all mesmeric beliefs be destroyed as men gratefully discern the spiritual fact which cancels every account—the recognition of Love's fulfillment of the law.

Evelyn F. Heywood

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